Macromolecule-induced clustering of hard spheres

The connectivity Omstein-Zernike formalism, together with the polymer refer ence interaction site model (PRISM), is employed to describe connectivity a nd network formation in mixtures of spheres and polymers. Results are prese nted for the percolation of spheres induced by both flexible coil-like and rigid rod-like linear polymers; the Percus-Yevick (PY) approximation is use d throughout. Our results are compared with predictions based on the adhesi ve hard sphere (AHS) model, and correlations with the polymer-mediated seco nd virial coefficient between spheres are discussed. (C) 2001 Academic Pres s.